HS VOLLEYBALL: MHS gets first playoff win since 2010

Published 4:41 pm, Monday, November 2, 2015

Midland High defensive specialist Konner Wood (11) keeps the ball in play against Lee High on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, at Midland High. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Midland High defensive specialist Konner Wood (11) keeps the ball in play against Lee High on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, at Midland High. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

HS VOLLEYBALL: MHS gets first playoff win since 2010

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CLYDE — After an agonizing defeat to open last season’s playoffs, the Midland High volleyball team redeemed itself on Monday and swept North Crowley 29-27, 25-15, 25-21 in a Class 6A bi-district match at Clyde High School.

With the win, the Lady Bulldogs (22-14) also broke a daunting four-year spell and advanced to the area round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season.

MHS will face the winner of Amarillo High, a 3-0 winner over El Paso Eastwood in the area round. The date, time and location for that match have not yet been determined.

North Crowley capped off its season with a 30-12 record.

MHS senior libero Konner Wood, who returned to action after missing her team’s final District 3-6A match, made spectacularly athletic digs and passes throughout the evening to pilot the MHS defense. She said she and her teammates were overjoyed to finally help advance the program past the first round.

“That’s just something we’ve worked so hard for,” said Wood, who tallied 29 digs and two aces in the win. “I don’t remember the last time Midland High has made it past the first round. We’ve worked so hard, we’ve overcome so many things this year. I can’t even put into words how happy I am.”

After falling behind, 23-20, the Lady Bulldogs won an epic battle in the first set that was evenly matched the entire way. Both sides hit the ball with force, blocked with authority and made many uplifting plays.

Fueled by the emotion of that victory, MHS stampeded out of the gates to start the second set. The Lady Bulldogs raised their level of play to new heights and for a lengthy stretch, played nearly perfectly.

North Crowley made a run late that pulled it closer, but MHS — which led, 18-6 at one point — dominated for the most part. The Lady Bulldogs were just the hungrier team and their play proved it as they grabbed a commanding 2-0 set lead.

MHS head coach Amanda Lopez said her team played calm and disciplined in the second set, which allowed it to maintain control over a talented Lady Panthers team.

“I felt like they (North Crowley) played great volleyball,” Lopez said. “We never lost control of ourselves, never did too many crazy things. I feel like it was all very controlled (for us).”

But the job wasn’t finished yet.

As the MHS players huddled up before the third set began, they remembered how last season’s 2-0 set lead against Arlington High slipped away.

And against a North Crowley squad desperate to avoid a sweep, the Lady Bulldogs confidently tossed that memory aside and came out with focus and determination.

The third set resembled the first, as the Lady Panthers fought admirably to keep their season alive. But leading, 22-21, MHS nailed down the sweep with a 3-0 run.

“Urgency set in,” Lopez said. “Like ‘Hey, we’re taking care of business, but we’re not done yet.’ That’s just what the conversation was.”

Momentum is a particularly dangerous weapon in volleyball and Wood said she knew her team couldn’t let up and give the Lady Panthers hope.

“I said ‘We’ve been here before,’” Wood said. “Last year we were up two games and they (Arlington) came back and won the last three. But we’re a different team this year.”

“I said ‘We’re not going to repeat what we did last year because we’re not the same team. It’s not over until the score says ‘25.’”